The Colonials, who trailed 41-27 early in the second half, went
on a 14-2 run to tie the score at 50 on Maurice Creek's short
jumper with 9:18 left. George Washington went 3 of 18 the rest of
the way.

Saint Louis coach Jim Crews said his team did a better job of
handling the ball and keeping George Washington from getting
rebounds after the Colonials tied the game. He also credits his
plea to his players to get closer to the basket before they took
shots for spurring a 12-2 run that gave the Billikens a 62-52 lead
with just under three minutes left.

''We quit taking jump shots like crazy in terms of early in the
possession ... and trying to shoot our way through instead of
execute our way through,'' he said. ''Very uncharacteristic of
us.''

Wichita State (29 straight) and Stephen F. Austin (22) are the
only teams with longer winning streaks than the Billikens.

Saint Louis shot 55.2 percent in the first to take a 39-27 lead
at the break and Jett scored the first basket to open the second
half.

The Billikens struggled from the free-throw line (12 of 25),
3-point range (3 of 16) and were outrebounded 42-36, giving up 17
offensive boards. But they shot 48 percent from the field and held
the Colonials to 32.8 percent shooting from the floor.

It was the fifth time in six games that Saint Louis won by seven
points or fewer.

''We kind of expect to come out with the W,'' said Loe, who led
Saint Louis with nine rebounds. ''We never think we're going to
lose. We were comfortable being where we were. How many games
straight now that it's been close like that? We're comfortable in
situations like that where we can execute down the stretch.''

Saint Louis' reserves outscored George Washington's 22-2. Coach
Mike Lonergan said his players had little energy left in the final
minutes. He used 10 players but they totaled just 21 minutes, nine
from John Kopriva who scored the reserves' only basket.

''I was worried about us being tired and I had already used at
least two or three timeouts and I was thinking who can I sub and
try to get guys a couple of minutes,'' he said. ''Then the game
just kept going a little bit too fast pace for us and we gave up
some easy baskets.''

The Colonials have been without starting guard Kethan Savage,
who broke his small toe Jan. 18 at St. Bonaventure. The Colonials
have gone 5-4 since, including losing three of their past four.

Grandy Glaze came off the bench for the Billikens to score 10
points and grab seven rebounds. That performance came a game after
he fouled out at George Mason in six minutes of play.

''I just got back to being myself and that's just having a high
motor, a good attitude, high energy, being a team guy,'' he said.
''That's all I've got to do. The rest will take care of
itself.''

Saint Louis needs just one more win to clinch the top seed in
the Atlantic 10 tournament and two more to win the league outright.
Two of its final four games are at home, against Duquesne on
Thursday and Dayton. The Billikens play at VCU and finish the
season at Massachusetts.

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